From Simone de Beauvoir to Beyoncé, feminism has fought its way into pop culture. With safe spaces popping up on South Park and Hillary Clinton running for president, it seems like 2016 has become the year of women. Despite this apparent feminist occupation of the pop-consciousness, historical cornerstones of meet-ups— feminist bookstores—are disappearing.
“There are 13 feminist bookstores left in North America,” said Gina Mercurio, owner of Toledo’s own feminist bookstore, People Called Women (PCW). “When I opened in 1993, there were 132. I’ve managed to stay open because of a group of very loyal customers who value feminist space, help from volunteers and interns, travelling to set up shop at conferences and music festivals and personally valuing feminism and books more than money.”
Building community
While the Amazonian axe that has put many bookstores out of business certainly impacts speciality shops, People Called Women has enjoyed steady business for over 20 years, in part, because of the strength of their customer base, serving as a community center for feminists, lesbians and the politically engaged.
“Community events have always been a part of feminist bookstores,” said Mercurio, “This allows them to function as a community center, and we’ve carried on that tradition.”
Mercurio estimates that, of her customer base, 80-90% are regulars. PCW also offers weekly events, feminist activism, and use of the store’s on-site Steinem’s Sisters Library, which boasts a large archive of classic feminist books and DVDs.
Most weeks, PCW hosts two or three events, which vary from film screenings, social nights, poetry workshops, and more. For the past 21 years, PCW has also organized Toledo’s Take Back the Night, a protest addressing violence against women, held annually in April.
Sharing space
While PCW focuses on feminist literature, the inventory is varied. There is no one way to be a feminist, and PCW offers literature suited for diverse people interested in socio-politics.
“I subscribe to the Gloria Steinem type of feminism,” said Mercurio, of the Toledo-native. “She never neglects. She always mentions race, class, sexual orientation, all across the board. She believes that sexism cannot be uprooted without racism also being uprooted. They’re all connected and she’s always believed that. The [contemporary] term for this kind of thought is
“intersectional”, though that term is new, it has always been the politic.”
Mercurio can point anyone in the direction of a suitable book— from a well-read Gender Studies academic, to a lesbian desiring relatable literature, to a young person first setting off on a path of discovery.
“I think it’s important to read books that talk about the differences in feminism,” said Mercurio. “But, while I think the distinctions …. are interesting, I sort of blank out. I don’t want to spend an hour arguing about distribution, I’d rather organize the Take Back the Night march.”
While Mercurio says that “every month is Women’s History month” at PCW, some special March Events include a in-store, concert featuring two singer-songwriters: Michigan-based Kate Peterson and the blues-tinged Nedra Johnson.
“Kate has played here before and she’s great. Neidra is very cool. I’m very excited,” said Mercurio.
The twin-bill will begin at 7pm on Saturday, March 12. BYOB. Sliding scale donation requested, $10-20.
People Called Women, 6060 Renaissance Place, Suite F. 11am-7pm, Tuesday-Saturday.
419-469-8983 | peoplecalledwomen.com
